Work Like a Woman

I have always believed that women make better managers. There are several reasons for it, some pathological and some simply because of the way women are conditioned. Women are better at reasoning and use more of their emotional brain centres that in itself make them approachable and affable. Women are stronger in times of crisis and ultimately women are the perfect combination of patience and pursuit. More and more companies are realizing the worth of their women employees; stories of rising from the ranks are making news all over the world. Whether it is Priya Paul, Chairman of Apeejay Park Hotels, who stepped into an established business or Kiran Mazumdar Shaw who started her career as a trainee brewer at Carlton & United Breweries and is now the CEO of Biocon, both have that one thing in common, indomitable spirit!



The most notable change has been in the finance sector. Out of the profiled top 21 Indian businesswomen, 7 were from banks and financial institutions. Naina Lal Kidwai was first to make news at Deputy CEO of HSBC bank followed by Lalita Gupte, Joint MD of ICICI Bank. This brings me back to why women are attracted to largely male dominated business sectors. It could be the lure of the unconquerable or that women fair well throughout school and university across India. It seems more like a scenario where women want to seize the moment and squeeze every opportunity because things finally different from what they were a generation ago. National progress can be quantified by the presence of women as a work force. It is the trickle effect that will benefit India in the long run; educated women will rear educated children. The most noted book of 2005 ‘Freakonomics’ cites ‘working mothers’ as one main reason behind successful people.



Even at a grass root level, I have noticed a new breed of Indian businesswomen, the enterprising housewives. Last Diwali I walked into a small shop selling terracotta lamps and idols, the women manning the counter had her head covered, spoke only Hindi (Indian regional language) and had a mobile ringing constantly around her neck. She knew every product and its price in her shop; it was 200 square feet and stocked 2000 things! She was a shark when it came to bargaining and all the while she was polite and courteous. The other such woman I know is one who runs a plant nursery. She is always cutting deals on landscaping and grass prices, she won’t budge on the price of exotics and if I saw her on the street I would never imagine she could run an enterprise that sold over 500 varieties of plants and was spread across 2 acres of land. The third woman I have been lucky to encounter was the lady I rented DVD’s from. She escaped an abusive marriage, started a movie rental service with the money she made from selling her wedding jewellery, all the while she was bringing up three children. She then expanded into electronic repairs, hired a talented electronics engineer and went on to marry him. They still have that little shop but its full of love, good service and a definite mark of sheer enterprise.

Even as far as global achievements by Indian women are concerned, Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo stands out as an exceptional achiever. Born and brought up in Chennai, she went to the US for higher studies, started with major corporate, has a successful marriage and is a mother to two children. Now that’s commendable.

View Women in Business Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Colors Of India

I was surprised to learn that Islam came to India long before the Muslim invasions. It was a balmy day in Kuwait and our guests were discussing the similarities between South Indians and Kuwaiti’s. Another new fact came into light; it was the trading of spices that led Arabs to the Malabar Coast in South India. Back in the 7th century it was merely an Islamic influence that could be felt; the invasions of course reinforced the faith firmly on Indian soil. This inclusion added further to India’s colorful culture and people. It was the trader families of Kerala and other parts of the Malabar Coasts that were the closest to their Arab business associates, and this closeness led to a slow conversion into Islam. In Malabar the Mappilas may have been the first community to convert to Islam.

Today, 16.4% of India is Muslim. They have contributed considerably to the fields of performing arts, crafts, politics, education and business ventures. Some of India’s leading literary giants, artists, film stars and leaders are Muslim and this alone makes Indian society a diverse and enriched structure. India’s most famous landmark the Taj Mahal is a classic example of Islamic architecture and construction prowess.

The union of so many faiths is felt most during festival season. Diwali follows Eid and Christmas follows Diwali. For almost 3 months, India is in a blanket of faith, celebration and thanksgiving. Eid is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast, they do not eat from sunrise to sunset, and some don’t even have water. They donate generously, participate in charitable activities and promote a sense of peace and unity. It is a time of spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of the month, Muslims throughout the world observe an exciting three day celebration called Eid ul Fitr. A common practice is for people to stay up and watch the full moon rise on the night on Eid. The day of the festival, a typical Muslim family wakes up early and does the first prayer of the day. They then attend prayers in mosques, parks, stadiums and arenas. The crowd greets and embraces each other as a gesture of love and celebration. The festivities continue at people’s homes after the congressional prayer. Special sweets and foods are prepared for friends and family. The finest clothes and jewelry are the highlights of the day. This is an occasion with great religious significance; the celebration is jubilant and hearty. It is a day of forgiveness, peace, brotherhood and unity. Muslims also mark this day with thanks to God for his guidance and blessings bestowed upon them.

Ultimately we all seek the same things from our faith – security, a sense of belonging, peace of mind, the love of God and a prevalence of brotherhood.